Publishing Association reports on new management of bookstores, finances and resources

Inter-American Division Publishing Association President Pastor Pablo Perla (right) introduces four managers who are overseeing operations at dozens of Adventist Bookstores across the territory, during the publishing house’s executive board meetings held at the Inter-American Division Headquarters in Miami, Florida, May 18, 2014. Images by Libna Stevens/IAD.

May 19, 2014 – Miami, Florida, United States…Libna Stevens/IAD

Officials at the Inter-American Division’s Publishing Association (IADPA), the largest of two publishing houses operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America, showcased its new resources, introduced new changes to their services and presented financial progress to board members during executive board meetings held yesterday at the Inter-American Division (IAD) Headquarters office in Miami, Florida.

IADPA’s President Pablo Perla reported that so far 56 out of the 104 Adventist Bookstores throughout the major church regions it sells to, are currently fully managed by the publishing house. The remaining 48 are expected to be fully managed by IADPA by the end of 2015.

“IADPA strives every day to be a dynamic editorial house open to change while working deliberately to keep ourselves in the forefront of the editorial world,” said Pastor Pablo Perla, president of IADPA as the board meeting began.

So far, 56 Adventist Bookstores throughout Colombia, Central America, Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica are fully managed by IADPA, said Perla. The achievement comes after top church administrators voted last year to grant the publishing house full management control of the 104 bookstores spread across the IAD except for Mexico, which has the church’s GEMA Editorial to operate its bookstores.

“We are working very intensely to have the 48 remaining bookstores under IADPA’s management by October 2015, just as the written expressed indication of the IAD Executive Committee indicated,” added Perla.

A series of new books on subjects that cover the identity of the Adventist Church and its long-standing message on temperance, evangelism, the Sabbath, and more were introduced to board members.

Pablo Perla (center) thanks Pastors Melchor Ferreyra (left), personal ministries director and Erwin Gonzalez(right), publishing ministries director for the church in Inter-America for their support in promoting the church’s 2013 missionary book of the year among laypersons and literature evangelists throughout the territory.

In addition, new resources for laypersons, literature evangelists, young people and children were featured and highlighted during the three-and-a-half-hour meeting.

As it stands, IADPA has an operating capital of 106 percent and a liquidity of 126 percent, reported Saul Ortiz, vice president of financial affairs for IADPA.

IADPA officials reported that 1.3 million copies of the designated IAD missionary book of the year for 2013 “Beyond Imagination” by Jerry D. Thomas, John Templeton Baldwin and James Gibson, were distributed across the IAD in English Spanish and French.

Total online book sales for 2013 was more than $76,000, compared to the $36,673 books sold in 2012, and $10,169 sold in 2011, thanks to the newly revamped website and increased publicity through social media platforms.

Inventory for 2014 was reported at more than $4.3 million.

Roy Cortez of the General Conference Auditing Service, reviewed IADPA’s 2013 audited report and presented recommendations and observations on the financial management of the publishing house.

Financial officers presented an analysis of accounts receivable and appealed for church leaders to ensure church organizations and institutions cleared their debts for the year.

In addition, the new universal logo for IADPA’s bookstores was unveiled as well, which includes the publishing house’s corporate logo.

To learn more on IADPA and its products, visit iadpa.org